KUALA LUMPUR: The involvement of DAP leaders in the Nenggiri by-election campaigning could dispel rumours and negative perception, says Penang executive council member Zairil Khir Johari.
He was commenting after a slew of Umno leaders, including Gua Musang division chief Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, shared their views against receiving DAP's help to campaign in Nenggiri on behalf of the party's candidate, Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani.
Zairil, who is Tanjung Bungah assemblyman, believed the involvement of DAP leaders could boost the campaign as they would be able to counter misinformation that ran deep among voters.
Previously, some Umno leaders had insisted that DAP should not get involved due to sentiments on the ground and population demographics.
On July 18, Tengku Razaleigh said DAP's campaigning, which he claimed was leaning heavily towards Chinese voters, would not resonate with the voters in Nenggiri, which was a "100 per cent Malay constituency".
"(Voters) want to hear from the Malays about the Malays there", he was quoted as saying.
However, Zairil believed that DAP leaders themselves could prove these assumptions wrong.
"The opposition has painted DAP in a negative light, often casting it as anti-Malay and anti-Islam villains. An explanation from the horse's mouth could help dispel this falsehood," he said.
He did not think that race mattered when it came to leaders representing the party in Nenggiri, despite the racial elements surrounding Umno leaders' statements.
Yesterday (July 26), Umno Veteran's Club secretary-general Datuk Mustapha Yaakub echoed Tengku Razaleigh's remarks, saying that DAP's participation would be ineffective among the Orang Asli in the constituency.
He said it could even confuse voters and invite exploitation by the opposition, which could jeopardise a victory for Umno.
Since then, other leaders, including Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and BN and Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, had seemingly concurred with Razaleigh's statement.
However, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani took a bold stance in dismissing the sentiment and called for closer cooperation.
"We are Malaysians, to me, we should work together," he said to reporters.
July 18 was also the day when Umno Kelantan liaison committee chairman Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakob announced that Azmawi, who is state Umno Youth chief, as the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional candidate for the Nenggiri by-election.
Nomination day has been set on Aug 3 and polling will be held on Aug 17.
The state assembly seat fell vacant following the cessation of Azizi Abu Naim's membership in Bersatu on June 13 after he pledged support for prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in November last year.